5 Tips for Great Graduation Photos during the Ceremony

Great graduation photos are hard to get. It's such an
important moment in your loved ones life, and you have only one chance
to capture it. Here are 5 tips to help make sure your photos are the
best they can be.

1. Use a Tripod

You should use a tripod for two reasons. One is that you have no
control over the lighting, and if the ceremony is in doors with low
light, then you may need to compensate by slowing the shutter speed
slightly. With so much going on, it can be easy for the slightest
camera movement to become blurred and thus ruinned. The other reason to
use a tripod is so you can safely set the focus, aperture and frame
before the ceremony begins, thus insuring you're ready when the moment
comes to take pictures.

2. Have a Long Lens

Odds are that you're not going to be able to get as close to the
action as you'd like. Have a telephoto lens to help you bridge the
distance to make sure you have a close up of the special moment.

3. Get There Early

You're competing with every other graduates family to get a good
seat (or spot for your camera). Arrive before everyone else comes to
claim your ground. Remember, you're there to shoot the graduate, not
the back of people heads. You can also scout out the area and maybe
find a great spot to shoot from that's a little hard to find. The more
time you have to prepare, the more successful you will be.

4. Practice

It's pretty likely that the person you came to shoot will not be the
first one to receive their diploma (unless the last name begins with
'A'). Why not shoot a couple of the graduates to see how you're doing.
Are the pictures coming out blurry? Is the framing off? Now is the time
to practice and compensate for variables you did not think of before.
Take advantage of every opportunity you have to get the best photos.

5. Pay Close Attention

The graduation program might not be terribly accurate. Maybe someone
didn't show up and the order was changed. Who knows? That's why you
need to pay close attention to what is going on. You don't want to miss
the person you came to shoot because your mind was wondering or because
she was the 52nd person instead of the 54th. There is no excuse to miss
the shot.